Hotel room-rack.



D. B. BEATSON.

HOTEL ROOM RACK.

APPLICATION FILED r1132, 1909.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Z MB 5 M 2 DAVID B..BEA'1S01\T, OF ASBURY PARK, NEW JERSEY.

HOTEL ROOM-RACK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Application filed February 2, 1909.- Serial N 0. 475,649.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID B. BEATSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Asbury Park, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hotel Room-Racks, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention has for its object primarily to provide a rack, slate or register for use in hotels and in similar connections whereby the number of rooms occupied, the different periods for which they shall be so occupied, and what rooms have been engaged for future occupancy may be immediately determined upon an inspection of the rack so that confusion from various causes may be avoided, the patrons of the hotel may be accommodated to their best advantage and also the rooms may be quickly and suitably assigned, all of these results being obtainable directly from the rack or without reference to letters or other records.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved rack of this character which is so arranged that the desired data with reference to the occupancy, vacating and the engaging of each room may be quickly ascertained, and it is a further object of the invention to provide such a rack as will permit an interchanging of suitable indicating cards at the time a room is vacated by one guest and becomes occupied by another.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in certain improvements, and combinations and arrangements of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out particularly in the claim at the end of the specification. I p

In the accompanying drawing :-'Figure 1 is a face view of a hotel room rack constructed in accordance with my present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one corner of the rack illustrating the mechanical construction thereof; Fig. 3 represents a vertical sectional View of that portion of the rack shown in Fig. 2; Figs. 4 and 5 represent horizontal sectional views of the portion of the rack shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 illustrating a slightly modified construction; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the indicating cards.

Similar parts are designated by the same reference characters in the several views.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown a device that is adapted primarily for use in hotels. It will be understood, however, that this is merely one embodiment of the invention and that the same may be applied to other uses in which case certain modifications in the arrangement, data and other details may be made whereby the invention may be used to the best advantage in each particular case.

In the present instance, the device embodies an appropriate frame 1 which may be supported in an appropriate position, and inserted in this frame is a plate 2. This plate is provided in the present instance with four rows of forwardly-projecting and horizontally-extending ribs 3 which are spaced at suitable intervals in a direction vertically of the device and are of a number preferably corresponding to the number of rooms of the hotel. The several rows of ribs are also spaced apart in a horizontal direction, the two intermediate rows of ribs being preferably longer than those toward the vertical edges of the plate and have dividing ribs 4 extending vertically between them. The spaces between these ribs are adapted to receive and contain cards 5 011 which may be inscribed the name of a guest or patron, and it is preferable to make these cards of cardboard. for when so made they will be inexpensive and, moreover, they will be flexible whereby the insertion and removal thereof will be facilitated in a manner that will presently appear. Extending vertically of the device are a set of scale strips 6. one of these strips overlying each vertical row of ribs 3 and they each bear a column of identifying characters, numerals being used in the present instance which correspond to the numbers of the various rooms, these numbers being arranged directly opposite to the respective spaces between the card-supporting ribs. This scale strip together with the plate 2 and the ribs thereon constitute pockets one of which is adapted to receive each end of a card, the card being inserted by first flexing it so as to contract its ends whereby such ends may be then inserted in the respective pockets between the two adjacent scale strips and, by releasing the strip, it will then spring into position and rest flatwise against the plate 2 which is behind it.

' The plate 2 and the scale strips 6 are se-' cured or locked in proper relation by the frame which is undercut as shown to receive the'edges of these parts, a neat and substantial construction being thereby produced.

Each card may be removedby gripping it at an intermediate point and then drawing it forwardly, the opposite ends of the strip being thereby withdrawn from its respective pockets. In order to facilitate the removal of the cards, especially when the card to be removed is between cards in the pockets above and below it, a channel or groove 7 may be formed in the face of the plate 2 so as to extend vertically thereof midway between the pockets whereby the cards adjacent to the one to be removed may be pressed inwardly by the fingers and sufiicient room is afforded the fingers to grasp the top and bottom edges of the card whereby the desired card may be removed.

The device shown in the present instance has three columns which are adapted to contain vertical rows of the identifying cards, the column at the left hand side in the pres ent instance being adapted to contain cards which indicate suchrooms as are occupied, the intermediate column being adapted to contain cards which are dated so as to inclicate when the rooms that are occupied shall be vacated, and the right hand column being adapted to contain cards which bear the names of patrons who have engaged rooms and also the dates when such rooms are to be occupied. The pockets in all of the columns are in horizontal alinement and, moreover, the numerals indicating the different rooms on all of the scale strips are also in horizontal alinement so that the, data contained on each horizontal row of the rack willindicate whether a room is occupied, if so, how long it will be occupied, and whether or not such room has been engaged for future occupancy and, if so, when it shall be so occupied.

In order that the mode of using the device may be understood, let it be assumed that room 10 is at present occupied. In that case, a card will be contained in the pockets beneath the numeral 10 which card .will contain the name of the occupant, this card being arranged in the left hand column. A card will also be placed in the intermediate column beneath the numeral 10,

indicating the date on which such room will be vacated. In the present instance, the date is given as March 4th. Assuming that a patron desires to secure a room on March 4th, reference to the right hand column will indicate that room 10 will be vacant on that date. A'card may then be filled out containing the name of the patron thus engaging the room and also the date when such patron shall occupy the room and this card is then placed in the right hand column in the pockets beneath the numeral 10. When room 10 is vacated on March 4th, the card in the left hand column is removed, the card in the intermediate column is also removed, and the card in the right hand column is removed, all of these cards being in horizontal alinement with the numerals 10 of the scale strips, and the card which formerly occupied a position in the right hand column is transferred to a corresponding position in the left hand column, and a card is inserted in the intermediate column in horizontal alinement therewith and bearing the date on which the room will again be vacant.

Any suitable construction may be pr0- vided for the device. I prefer, however, to

construct the plate 2 of sheet material, such tion which indicates such rooms as are 00- cupied, the intermediate column is provided with an inscription which indicates when such rooms as are'occupied shall be vacant, and the right hand column is provided with an inscription which indicates what rooms are to be rented or engaed.

A room register constructed in accordance with my present invention is simple and inexpensive in its construction and it may be manipulated with facility and, moreover, it renders it possible to determin'e what rooms are occupied, for how long they shall be occupied, and what rooms are available with out making it necessary to consult the register or other papers to obtain this result.

I claim as my invention:

A hotel room rack comprising a plate having a plurality of rows of horizontally extending and vertically spaced ribs projecting from its forward face, the ribs of each row being separated and spaced laterally to form rows of opposed horizontally spaced card-receiving pockets, vertically extending strips applied to the forward edges of the ribs and closing the front of each In testimony whereof I have hereunto set pocket formed thereby, and a frame surmy hand in presence of two subscribing Wit- 10 rounding the periphery of said plate and nesses.

having recessed 0r undercut portions to re- DAVID B BEATSON ceive the periphery of the plate and the edges of said strips to secure said strips and lVitnesses:

plate in proper relation and Within the LAURUS LOOMIS, Jr., frame. F. B. HUSTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatents, Washington, I). G. 

